canadian officials: They were sent back to Moscow as part of a swap for prisoners in Russia, according to Vancouver Courier. Alexander, who finished high school in Russia, changed his surname to Vavilov on the advice of Canadian officials in a bid to obtain a Canadian passport. The parents were arrested eight years ago in the United States and indicted on charges of conspiring to act as secret agents on behalf of Russia's SVR, a successor to the infamous Soviet KGB. Heathfield and Foley admitted to being Andrey Bezrukov and Elena Vavilova. But he ran into hurdles at the passport office and in August 2014 the citizenship registrar said the government no longer recognized him to be a Canadian citizen. The Federal Court of Canada upheld the decision. The registrar said his parents were employees of a foreign government at the time of his birth, making him ineligible for citizenship. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

dreamer immigrants: The effort meant that a congressional drive to help young Dreamer immigrants that seemed to have lost steam earlier this year could be resurrected in the run-up to November's elections for House and Senate control, according to Vancouver Courier. That could spell fresh headaches for GOP leaders, whose party is divided between backers of President Donald Trump's hard-line views and more pragmatic members.article continues below Trending Stories Squamish hereditary chief Ian Campbell considering a run for mayor with Vision Vancouver Thousands ordered out as part of B.C.'s southern Interior braces for flooding Marpole modular housing opponents want to be heard by Supreme Court of Canada East Side businesses feeling the pinch The rebellious lawmakers want the House to vote in June on four bills including a bipartisan compromise, a conservative proposal and a liberal plan. One top maverick said they had enough support to succeed. Many of the legislators demanding action face potentially competitive re-election races in congressional districts with large numbers of Hispanic, suburban or agriculture-industry voters with pro-immigration views. Jeff Denham, R-Calif. We feel very importantly that this has got to happen now, and we're willing to drive that vote, said one leading proponent, Rep. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

hardball tactics: Advocates argue ICE has also sometimes used criminal allegations against immigrants in their deportation efforts without letting them answer the charges, according to Vancouver Courier. This is now becoming a kind of full-fledged war between the federal government and states and localities, said Muzaffar Chishti, director of the Migration Policy Institute's office at New York University School of Law. Advocates for immigrants say the hardball tactics of Immigration and Customs Enforcement are blocking due process rights, creating chaos and forcing runarounds in court systems to get immigrants who are accused of crimes in front of judges.article continues below Trending Stories Marpole modular housing opponents want to be heard by Supreme Court of Canada Former CFL player arrested for assault in New Westminster Squamish hereditary chief Ian Campbell considering a run for mayor with Vision Vancouver New Westminster resident facing child porn charges Under Republican President Donald Trump, the agency is specifically targeting suspects not yet found guilty, a departure from the Obama administration, which focused primarily on those convicted, attorneys say. While it's unclear how many defendants are not being turned over to appear in court, cases are popping up around the country, largely in so-called sanctuary cities and states where local authorities don't co-operate with the federal government on immigration enforcement.ICE doesn't track how many detainees have pending criminal charges or how often they're denied release to state custody for court proceedings, an agency spokeswoman said. And federal authorities say they won't do that if they're unsure whether local officials will return the person to federal custody when the proceeding is over.ICE works with prosecutors to transfer detainees to criminal custody so they can resolve their cases, but won't hand a defendant over unless local authorities guarantee the person won't be released, Acting Director Thomas Homan told The Associated Press in an interview last month. In one case, a man accused of raping a child was deported essentially set free in his home country instead of facing trial.ICE is not required to comply with judges' orders that a detainee appear in state court. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

immigrant mother: Expand What do you do in your industry Acting, writing, producing, art-ivist, according to NOW Magazine. What's your most recent film about A queer, Pakistani girl and her Muslim, immigrant mother come of age against the backdrop of their shared love of a Bollywood heroine. See all of the profiles here. If you had to cook one dish to impress a potential film financier, what would it be Do they eat meat Do they eat carbs Do they want to eat something that might require us to nap afterwards I know, so Hollywood/respectful. It's made traditionally with shank beef, cooked all day, eaten with your hands with naan, topped with cilantro, ginger, fried onions and hot green chilis. I would cook the Pakistani slow-cooked dish, Nihari. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

canadian government: Louis to return to Europe was a blight on our collective past, according to CTV. An apology in the House of Commons will not rewrite this shameful chapter of our history, Trudeau said. In a well-received speech to a sold-out Jewish fundraising event, Trudeau said the decision by Canada to force the German ocean liner MS St. It will not bring back those who perished or repair the lives shattered by tragedy. In the run-up to the Second World War and the ensuing Holocaust, the Canadian government heeded anti-Semitic sentiment by severely restricting Jewish immigration. But it is our hope that this long overdue apology will bring awareness to our failings, as we vow to never let history repeat itself. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

brampton: I am very inspired by the vibrancy and energy of Brampton, Healy said in a news release, according to Toronto Star. It is a diverse, youthful and ambitious city, and we have sought to capture Brampton's eclectic dynamism with this upcoming season. The award-winning Healy was previously artistic director of Toronto's Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. About 73 per cent of the population of Brampton belongs to ethnic minorities, according to data from the Region of Peel, while the median age of its residents is 34.7. Article Continued Below The Rose will also stage a popular show for babies, One Thing Leads to Another. The Rose's theatre offerings include Ravi Jain's A Brimful of Asha in October, about a culture clash between a South Asian man and his parents; This is the Point March 2019 about living with cerebral palsy; Traces November a dance production from Red Sky Performance that explores Indigenous connections to ancestral origins; Cottagers and Indians November about a dispute between an Indigenous man and his neighbour over land use; and How Black Mothers Say I Love You by Trey Anthony. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

ctv lethbridge: But she says the video doesn't reflect the whole story and that she was merely standing up for myself as I was being disrespected that night, according to CTV. Monir Omerzai, who has lived in Lethbridge for more than 12 years since moving from Afghanistan, said the incident happened in April. The woman, who has since lost her job at a B.C. car dealership after being identified, has apologized. He posted the video to Facebook on Tuesday evening after he says friends encouraged him to do so. I've lived all over Canada, and I haven't seen anybody like that. All the immigrants that they come here and they work hard, they basically start from scratch, and nobody should be disrespected like that for no reason, Omerzai told CTV Lethbridge on Wednesday. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

immigration officials: The 566 clients associated to the two addresses ... are well beyond what would be expected for a single dwelling residence and motel, investigator Lana Hicks said in one warrant, according to CTV. The nine thick search warrants tell the story of how the probe began on March 30th, 2015, when a border officer red-flagged the watch. But newly released search warrants have revealed the intricate sleuthing that led immigration officials to dive deeply into how hundreds of business immigrants used the same home address in P.E.I. On Monday, charges were laid alleging siblings Ping Zhong and her brother, Yi Zhong, counselled business immigrants seeking permanent residency to provide residential addresses in P.E.I. though they didn't really live there. Soon, Hicks, an 18-year veteran of the border service, was searching for two witnesses in a potential watch-smuggling case. When Hicks called, she found a hotel reception desk, and decided to run a check through the agency's case management system. One man had provided 281 Brackley Point Road in Charlottetown as his address. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

nordstrom rack: The teenage friends had stopped into a Nordstrom Rack in suburban St, according to Toronto Star. Louis on Thursday to look for last-minute deals before a high school prom on Friday night. Louis to apologize on Tuesday to three black friends who were falsely accused last week of trying to steal clothing at one of the company's stores. Two employees followed them throughout the store, closely monitoring their every move, and reported them to police. Louis on Tuesday. Every time we moved, they moved, Mekhi Lee, 19, told KMOV-TV in St. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

rhoda howard-hassmann: It makes it less special, said Gladu, according to The Chronicle Herald. Canada seems to be the apology capital of the world right now, said Rhoda Howard-Hassmann, a professor emeritus of political science from Wilfrid Laurier University. I think it's worth apologizing for it, but you can have dilution in recognition when you start apologizing, apologizing, apologizing. She said if Trudeau makes too many apologies, people may call it silly, but on the other hand, if he apologizes to one group and not the other, it leaves people behind. Howard-Hassmann pointed out that while Kelly apologized for the specific incident, people of African descent in Canada overall have not been given an official apology. In 2010, the then-mayor of Halifax, Peter Kelly, apologized for the destruction of Africville, a north-end community the city bulldozed over 40 years ago. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

sales tax: It is also a surprising exception to backsliding on democratic values in Southeast Asia, a region of more than 600 million people where governments of countries including Thailand, Cambodia and the Philippines have swung toward harsh authoritarian rule, according to The Chronicle Herald. Official results show the opposition parties, which banded together as the Alliance of Hope, surpassed the 112 seats needed for a majority in parliament. The result is a political earthquake for Muslim-majority Malaysia, sweeping aside the government of Prime Minister Najib Razak, whose reputation was tarnished by a monumental corruption scandal and the imposition of an unpopular sales tax that hurt many of his coalition's poor rural supporters. Mahathir in a televised address Thursday said a representative of Malaysia's constitutional monarchy had contacted the opposition to acknowledge its victory. He said Thursday and Friday would be public holidays, another slap for Najib, who on election eve had promised public holidays if his coalition won. A prime minister would be sworn in within a day, he said, which would make Mahathir the world's oldest elected leader. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

video: This time at Denny's in Lethbridge, Alta, according to Toronto Star. And worse, a response that appears to justify the racism, this one from an NDP MLA. The targets of hate say they were also asked to leave the restaurant. Another overtly racist incident, another restaurant, another video. In a video posted late Tuesday night to Facebook by Calgary resident Monir Omerzai, and which has already been viewed more than 100,000 times, a white woman is seen turning in her seat in her booth, unleashing an abusive tirade at what appear to be four men in a conversation that gets increasingly heated. Ignorant prick. Read more Article Continued Below Video of woman telling group of men they're not Canadian' at an Alberta Denny's goes viral react-text 143 Screenshots taken from a video posted to Facebook late Tuesday that allegedly show a verbal confrontation between two groups of customers at a Lethbridge, Alta. restaurant by a user named Monir Omerzai. /react-text Facebook/Screenshot You're dealing with a Canadian woman right now and I will leap across this table and punch you in the f--ing mouth, she says. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

corruption scandal: Official results show the opposition parties, which banded together as the Alliance of Hope, surpassed the 112 seats needed for a majority in parliament, according to Vancouver Courier. Mahathir in a televised address Thursday said a representative of Malaysia's constitutional monarchy had contacted the opposition to acknowledge its victory. The result is a political earthquake for Muslim-majority Malaysia, sweeping aside the government of Prime Minister Najib Razak, whose reputation was tarnished by a monumental corruption scandal and the imposition of an unpopular sales tax that hurt many of his coalition's poor rural supporters.article continues below Trending Stories Burnaby MP Kennedy Stewart running for Vancouver mayor as independent Snoop Dogg's cannabis connections in Delta Blame Lower Mainland farms for stinky smell on Monday Adriane Carr awaits Vision Vancouver's nod to run for mayor It is also a surprising exception to backsliding on democratic values in Southeast Asia, a region of more than 600 million people where governments of countries including Thailand, Cambodia and the Philippines have swung toward harsh authoritarian rule. A prime minister would be sworn in within a day, he said, which would make Mahathir the world's oldest elected leader. Mahathir was credited with modernizing Malaysia during his 22 year rule that ended in 2003 but was also known as a heavy-handed leader who imprisoned opponents and subjugated the courts. He said Thursday and Friday would be public holidays, another slap for Najib, who on election eve had promised public holidays if his coalition won. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

giant: We just need to have a little more swagger as a country, a little more of an ability to promote and demonstrate how awesome we are, according to Vancouver Courier. We don't often do that. Speaking at e-commerce giant Shopify Inc.'s annual conference in Toronto on Tuesday, he praised Canada's entrepreneurs, but lamented how susceptible their innovations are to overseas investors.article continues below Trending Stories Restaurant servers' minimum wage increasing 5/hour by 2021Central Park Vision Vancouver's Sarah Blyth leaving politics for son's sake Animal lawyer balks at dog bite bylaw amendment Burnaby MP Kennedy Stewart running for Vancouver mayor as independent As soon as we come up with a really great idea, someone with really deep pockets comes up from the States or somewhere else in the world and says, 'Oh great, I am going to incorporate that into my platform,' he said. We don't do that enough. He said there's also a flurry of Canadians returning home from the U.S., but did not elaborate further. Trudeau said he has seen a lot of funding flowing to Canada from Silicon Valley, where major American technology companies have built their businesses, but we need to do a better job of generating that capital here. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

trudeau: Louis to return to Europe was a blight on our collective past.article continues below Trending Stories Restaurant servers' minimum wage increasing 5/hour by 2021Central Park Vision Vancouver's Sarah Blyth leaving politics for son's sake Animal lawyer balks at dog bite bylaw amendment Burnaby MP Kennedy Stewart running for Vancouver mayor as independent An apology in the House of Commons will not rewrite this shameful chapter of our history, Trudeau said, according to Vancouver Courier. It will not bring back those who perished or repair the lives shattered by tragedy. In a well-received speech to a sold-out Jewish fundraising event, Trudeau said the decision by Canada to force the German ocean liner MS St. But it is our hope that this long overdue apology will bring awareness to our failings, as we vow to never let history repeat itself. From 1933 to 1945, only about 5,000 Jewish refugees were accepted due to what Trudeau called our discriminatory 'none is too many' immigration policy in place at the time. In the run-up to the Second World War and the ensuing Holocaust, the Canadian government heeded anti-Semitic sentiment by severely restricting Jewish immigration. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

armenian leaders: In one of his first moves after parliament elected him as prime minister, Pashinian announced he would visit Nagorno-Karabakh on Wednesday, according to CTV. He said the self-declared government there must be a part of any talks to end the long-standing frozen conflict. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian faces an array of challenges, including a parliament dominated by the party he denounced as corrupt and how to resolve the volatile question of Nagorno-Karabakh, a region of Azerbaijan under the control of ethnic Armenian forces. Although Armenian leaders traditionally visit the region on May 9, the date on which many ex-Soviet countries mark the defeat of Nazi Germany, Pashinian's trip is likely to provoke resentment from Azerbaijan. Since a six-year separatist war ended in 1994, Nagorno-Karabakh have been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia. Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman Hikmet Hajieyv issued a statement insisting the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which is currently occupied, has always been an integral part of Azerbaijan. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

atlantic canada: The inaugural event in 2017 recognized leaders from the fields of education, business, government and community service, and guests at the gala were treated to an evening of multicultural music and dance, according to The Chronicle Herald. The event will honour immigrants in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island who stand out in their communities, and nominations are open until July 30 at My East Coast Experience is a multimedia partnership sharing the stories and dreams of those who've chosen Atlantic Canada as their new home. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

government assistance: With government assistance, enormous financial wealth has been created, much of it accumulated by the top 1%. For those who have studied the ideas of Karl Marx, the economic thinker and political activist born 200 years ago on May 5, 1818 in Triers, Germany, the idea that increased wealth accumulation by the few goes hand in hand with the difficulty of earning a living wage for the many, hardly comes as a surprise, according to Rabble. Additional capitalist income is created when workers are paid less than they produce. But promoting private investment through corporate tax breaks and income tax reductions for the wealthy has increased inequality, not promoted wide prosperity. Therefore the incentive to pay your own workers only as much as they need to stay alive is germane to profit seeking. In the 19th century, both John Stuart Mill -- the most famous English liberal -- and Karl Marx -- the most esteemed socialist -- agreed that it was labour that produced value for owners. As revenue increases faster than the wage bill, the difference -- profit -- is pocketed by the owners most often corporations who employ the workers. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

telephone interview: The Canada Border Services Agency says 566 immigrants used the same addresses between 2008 and 2015 -- the siblings' Sherwood Motel and Ping Zhong's Charlottetown home, according to CTV. Nearly all were granted permanent residency. Siblings Ping Zhong and Yi Zhong allegedly counselled business immigrants seeking permanent residency to provide residential addresses in P.E.I. though they didn't really live there, as required under the province's immigration system. Seven cases were chosen for prosecution, said Colin Murchison, a CBSA director of investigations in an interview Tuesday. That doesn't mean that we wouldn't ever lay other charges depending on what new evidence presents itself, Murchison said in a telephone interview. The CBSA charged Ping Zhong, 60, with three counts of aiding and abetting misrepresentation under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, and five counts against her 58-year-old brother. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

idea: As soon as we come up with a really great idea, someone with really deep pockets comes up from the States or somewhere else in the world and says, 'Oh great, I am going to incorporate that into my platform, ' he said, according to CTV. We just need to have a little more swagger as a country, a little more of an ability to promote and demonstrate how awesome we are. Speaking at e-commerce giant Shopify Inc.'s annual conference in Toronto on Tuesday, he praised Canada's entrepreneurs, but lamented how susceptible their innovations are to overseas investors. We don't often do that. Trudeau said he has seen a lot of funding flowing to Canada from Silicon Valley, where major American technology companies have built their businesses, but we need to do a better job of generating that capital here. We don't do that enough. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

nazi germany: In one of his first moves after parliament elected him as prime minister, Pashinian announced he would visit Nagorno-Karabakh on Wednesday, according to Toronto Star. He said the self-declared government there must be a part of any talks to end the long-standing frozen conflict. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian faces an array of challenges, including a parliament dominated by the party he denounced as corrupt and how to resolve the volatile question of Nagorno-Karabakh, a region of Azerbaijan under the control of ethnic Armenian forces. Although Armenian leaders traditionally visit the region on May 9, the date on which many ex-Soviet countries mark the defeat of Nazi Germany, Pashinian's trip is likely to provoke resentment from Azerbaijan. Article Continued Below What is this Initial naivete, ignorance of the subject, the bravado of the victor or maybe all of these together he later said of Pashinian's announcement. Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hikmet Hajieyv issued a statement insisting the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which is currently occupied, has always been an integral part of Azerbaijan. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

visitor visas: Coming across the border in a way that tries to circumvent the law or defy proper procedure is no free ticket to Canada, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale told reporters, according to Toronto Star. After Haitians in 2017, it appears Nigerians armed with valid U.S. visitor visas are the latest group to come across at Roxham Road in Hemmingford, not far from the Lacolle border crossing at the Quebec-New York border. Three senior federal ministers delivered a blunt reminder to them Monday that entering Canada illegally is not a free pass into the country. Hussen said he plans to travel to Nigeria soon but noted the federal government has sent three immigration officers to Lagos. Goodale said all of the country's international obligations are being met in dealing with asylum. react-empty 148 They must prove they need Canada's protection to keep them safe, he said. Article Continued Below Canada has been working closely with the United States over the abuse of U.S. visas by Nigerians whose ultimate goal is to get to Canada within weeks of arriving. react-text 139 Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Ahmed Hussen is pushing to refresh the Safe Third Country agreement. /react-text Sean Kilpatrick / THE CANADIAN PRESS It's becoming apparent to us that they've obtained these visas to come to Canada to make asylum claims, Hussen said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

bid: An independent human rights report commissioned by the bid warned there could be some potential discrimination in relation to travel restrictions for some citizens from certain states, according to Toronto Star. Read more Trump threatens to withhold support from countries who don't back U.S. World Cup bid Article Continued Below Ottawa backs North American 2026 FIFA World Cup bid, pledges 5 million if it wins Canada, Mexico, U.S. seem afraid' they won't win joint 2026 World Cup bid, Blatter says The report was submitted to FIFA in March as part of bidding requirements but the U.S has offered fresh assurances to world football's governing body around the bearing of immigration policies on the World Cup. react-empty 142 All eligible athletes, officials and fans from all countries around the world would be able to enter the United States without discrimination, the U.S. government told FIFA in a letter last week. The North American bid has faced questions about the impact of attempts by U.S. President Donald Trump to implement a ban on travel to the U.S. by residents of six majority-Muslim countries. The letter was to be cited in a speech in Brussels on Tuesday by Mexico Football Federation President Decio de Maria during an appearance with his U.S. and Canadian counterparts. Our three governments have provided the strong guarantees we need, including so that entry will be safe, reliable and convenient for every player and every fan, De Maria told the International Sports Press Association Congress. The three countries are jointly bidding to take on Morocco in the June 13 vote by the FIFA Congress. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

housing opponents: Diversity is our strength, according to Vancouver Courier. Welcome ToCanada. Members of the Parti Quebecois have for months accused Justin Trudeau of helping to spark the current refugee crisis with a January 2017 tweet welcoming newcomers.article continues below Trending Stories Mom tracks down stroller thief with the help of social media North Delta plastic surgeon found in contempt of court orders Hector Bremner remains defiant, will seek re-election in October Marpole modular housing opponents want to be heard by Supreme Court of Canada The prime minister wrote on Twitter at the time, To those fleeing persecution, terror and war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. The PQ's Catherine Fournier and Carole Poirier say the message gave false hope to people around the world who assumed Canada would welcome them regardless of whether they fit the legal definition of a refugee. They also add that all refugee applicants should do so through the normal process. They're calling on Trudeau to send out another tweet, this time telling people who cross the border irregularly they will not be given a free pass into Canada. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

identity: Police said three main suspects two Germans and a Russian were arrested in Hamburg late Monday, according to Vancouver Courier. The gang, comprising at least eight people, also includes Ukrainians. Federal police say the gang is suspected of helping mostly Moldovans enter Germany and work there illegally, using fake Romanian identity documents.article continues below Trending Stories Mom tracks down stroller thief with the help of social media North Delta plastic surgeon found in contempt of court orders Hector Bremner remains defiant, will seek re-election in October Marpole modular housing opponents want to be heard by Supreme Court of Canada In a statement Tuesday, police said 800 officers searched 21 offices and homes in Hamburg and Bremen, Lower Saxony and Saxony Anhalt states. At least 35 illegal immigrants were found at premises in Hamburg. Read Related Topics ul ul ul ul 2018 Vancouver Courier According to the police statement, some of the suspects in Saxony-Anhalt had ties to the far-right Reich Citizens movement. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

immigration system: Nearly all were granted permanent residency, according to Vancouver Courier. Seven cases were chosen for prosecution, said Colin Murchison, a CBSA director of investigations in an interview Tuesday. Siblings Ping Zhong and Yi Zhong allegedly counselled business immigrants seeking permanent residency to provide residential addresses in P.E.I. though they didn't really live there, as required under the province's immigration system.article continues below Trending Stories Mom tracks down stroller thief with the help of social media North Delta plastic surgeon found in contempt of court orders Hector Bremner remains defiant, will seek re-election in October Marpole modular housing opponents want to be heard by Supreme Court of Canada The Canada Border Services Agency says 566 immigrants used the same addresses between 2008 and 2015 the siblings' Sherwood Motel and Ping Zhong's Charlottetown home. The CBSA charged Ping Zhong, 60, with three counts of aiding and abetting misrepresentation under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, and five counts against her 58-year-old brother. Nine thick files of search warrants contain investigators' descriptions of how they monitored the immigrants being picked up at the Charlottetown airport. That doesn't mean that we wouldn't ever lay other charges depending on what new evidence presents itself, Murchison said in a telephone interview. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.